RE: SOTW: BMW 740i (E38)

[monthefish]

slarnge said:

Nice and cheap,looks like its got the wrong tyres fitted to those rims.

You don't say...

[HON2A]

dbdb said:

It's probably just me, but I can't quite work out where Central Europe ends and Eastern Europe begins. Do Czech people consider themselves Eastern European? If so, is that because they are a Slavic people who speak a Slavic language rather than a Germanic or Latin based one? It has puzzled me for a long time - the Czech republic seems to be in Central Europe geographically since the east-west centre point is in Belarus. Is this them moment when I get my coat...

I like the fax socket!

OT but... Czechs consider themselves Central European Slavs (Prague is geographical to the west of Vienna) and EU members, with their own culture and outlook on life. It's the Soviet Iron Curtain that divided Eastern and Central Europe, both exploiting and holding back the Czechs for over 50 years. Czechs tend to remember Chamberlain's appeasement, giving them to Hitler with the words "that far away country of which we know little", yet retain an enormous admiration for the concept and potential that is Britain. Although we hate being unable to travel in taxis that state "No cheques" which is why we hoon about in old 7 series sheds. I don't wish to ruin a good thread with history, but you did ask BTT: The wheels are definitely wrong.

[J4CKO]

I dont think the thread is having a specific go at all Eastern European people, but that specific, slightly furtive, scary looking type with a leather jacket of dubious business practices, kind of like the guy out of Grand Theft Auto.

[exgtt]

Thanks for the insite HON2A, I just assumed they were popular for their country hopping abilities + their cheap as chips in the uk, I thought that might not be the case in other countries.

[muppet42]

Love these 7-series, the chiselled lines are I think some of the best BMW ever produced. Transporter and JB films contain some rather cracking chase scenes with it too as has been mentioned. Just don't let an admittedly rather intelligence lacking individual try a burnout on a sloped surface... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST3EIMWjDgw ...sorry, had to link to that one

[traffman]

Seriously this is nuts , im off to New York and will be buying a 40th bday pressie and you go and show me this.

Its about the same price as the watch im looking at!

[VeeFour]

Old Gregg said:

SFan said:

O/T, I'd quite like the plate off the E38 on my Integra

Fancy selling?

Belongs in the 'Real Chav Plates' thread, that one....

[fluffnik]

Liquid Knight said:

Would be perfect if it had a proper gear box.

It does.

The adaptive 'box of the M60 cars is prescient.

[crostonian]

louismchuge said:

Riggers & Co

I think it's time for the winds of change! How about upping the budget?

Blame inflation, blame the scrapage scheme, but I think 2k would see a lot more diverse and interesting metal

Yes but then perhaps it would have to be renamed 'Summer House of the Week'....

[danielw]

18 months ago I bought a £2k E38 750 (double glazing and all the toys) and I often choose this over my 911... More power, more cylinders and a different sort of fun. The perfect alternative for when I don't feel like using my left leg.

In town I see 13mpg on a run 23mpg. I reckon that mine was a brilliant £2k shed!

[fluffnik]

T16OLE said:

Havant read the whole thread so applogies if its been said, but are they not 4.4 rather than 4.0

Early ones are 4.0 M60 and lack Steptronic, later ones have the 4.4 M62 and Steptronic 'boxes.

[Patrick Bateman]

danielw said:

18 months ago I bought a £2k E38 750 (double glazing and all the toys) and I often choose this over my 911... More power, more cylinders and a different sort of fun. The perfect alternative for when I don't feel like using my left leg.

In town I see 13mpg on a run 23mpg. I reckon that mine was a brilliant £2k shed!

Any repairs so far?

Would you just scrap it if something like the gearbox went?

[Dr Imran T]

I have a very last of the line 2001 740i Sport. Amazing cars but as others have said they are not cheap to run. The cabin is truly a lovely place to be and the overall feel of the car is majestic.

Mine:







We took it over to the continent and it performed admirably in clearing the motorways with great ease.

[Itsallicanafford]

Mmmh, in gold please with tan leather...wafting between petrol stations...70-80-90-£100, £110 I can almost hear the pump clicking on....gee the old girl's thirsty....

[Fox-]

Just love the late E38's along with the E39's.

Favourite BMW era ever.

[Olf]

Itsallicanafford said:

Mmmh, in gold please with tan leather...wafting between petrol stations...70-80-90-£100, £110 I can almost hear the pump clicking on....gee the old girl's thirsty....

70 litre tank so yes, painful.

[danielw]

Patrick Bateman said:

Any repairs so far?

Would you just scrap it if something like the gearbox went?

The first 10 months were completely painless (excluding one indicator that fell out £10.00 on ebay to replace) and so I decided it was time for a service...

... Inspection 2, new rear discs & pads all round, plus a bunch of front suspension bushes cost the cars price again.

Then a front suspension squeak became a LOUD squeak... which came to another thousand.

To answer - after the suspension work it drives brilliantly (controlled and quiet) and I can't imagine what I could replace it with. My educated guess is that big things (engine / box) are pretty reliable. But the little things cost porsche prices and so it is a case of death by a thousand cuts. So, no. I have broken the first rule of shedanomics which is not to get attached

[dbdb]

Olf said:

Itsallicanafford said:

Mmmh, in gold please with tan leather...wafting between petrol stations...70-80-90-£100, £110 I can almost hear the pump clicking on....gee the old girl's thirsty....

70 litre tank so yes, painful.

Probably more than that, isn't it?
My Jaguar XJ takes 88 litres to fill from empty, the '7' Series is probably similar. A full tank of V-Power is about £125 in mine.

[fwaggie]

How does anyone with one of these (or the E39 like mine), drive them "enthusiastically" whilst wearing normal clothes?

If I take a right hand bend at anything over pedestrian walking speed I all but end up in the passenger seat.

Left hand bends I have to make sure the window is up or I'll self eject.

They're very comfy seats when going in a relatively straight line, but god, they had sod all lateral support and are as slippy as heck.

Do you all wear rubber fetish clothes or wetsuites when driving?

[AL V8]

dbdb said:

Olf said:

Itsallicanafford said:

Mmmh, in gold please with tan leather...wafting between petrol stations...70-80-90-£100, £110 I can almost hear the pump clicking on....gee the old girl's thirsty....

70 litre tank so yes, painful.

Probably more than that, isn't it?
My Jaguar XJ takes 88 litres to fill from empty, the '7' Series is probably similar. A full tank of V-Power is about £125 in mine.

It's a 95 litre tank so yes, it's been a while since I've filled it to the brim. I've had my 2001 740 sport for 3 years now and love it every bit as much as when I first bought it. Plenty of comfort & power, one of the last truly good looking BMWs made.

I rarely get to drive it these days as I have a company car (diesel X1 of all things) forced upon me, already been told off for using the e38 for work... Considering the road tax for it here in Ireland is €1600 per year and I'm paying twice that in company car tax I should really sell it, but the thought of that breaks my heart. Here it is: